Christchurch: A plane departing the Christchurch Airport in New Zealand landed safely back on Thursday afternoon, after suffering from bird strikes shortly after take-off.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the Fiji Airways FJ450 from Christchurch to Fiji’s Nadi encountered bird strikes shortly after departure. The pilot declared an emergency and circled the aircraft to burn fuel until it reached the required landing weight. The plane successfully landed back at Christchurch Airport two hours later.

A statement from Fiji Airways confirmed that all passengers and crew members onboard were safe. Images from New Zealand media showed that the plane’s nose was damaged with visible bloodstains on the side. Additional images captured by passengers also showed blood on the plane’s engine.

Local media reported that the aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-808.